The Flow.

[Kind of Blue]

:hi: ASAH. Several events have moved me to post about the flow. At first I thought it was a place of meditation but have come to realize that it's not really, because it's not about allowing the time for the practice. It's a constant. It's quiet stream of energy in the awareness of every little thing that I'm doing, not even forcing thoughts out to quiet the mind, though the quiet mind is where the flow takes me. I know negative thoughts, like worry and fear, take me out of the flow and as quickly as possible let them go, like automatically dropping a pin that just pricked me or the flame that just burned me.

I was in the flow of baking early this month, and in one moment of mindlessness, the thought (the voice) popped in and said, "You can take on extra work." Extra work! Oh, hell, no, I snapped back. Everything is flowing just right. Two days later I got email from a company I use to edit transcripts, saying they are reorganizing (after outsourcing to the Philippines) and could I start in about 3 weeks? Without thinking about it I jumped at the chance, so pleased they would consider me. And I'm like, now why did I do that? Last Wednesday, my husband came home saying he'd lost a juicy contract. It was a surprise because it shouldn't have expired for another 6months. But the company is shutting down. After some financial gymnastics, everything is fine for the next month. Just in time for my job to kick in. And I just got a soothing message from the company today keeping me posted, but wanting to know if I could start even sooner.

For me, this state of mindlessness, when being aware of the ever present Now, seems to be where we are connected to all things; even changing for the better how I perceived the past and allowing a better future. It's almost as if somewhere and at all times, somebody or something has exactly what they need to offer and what I'm ready to accept. A beautiful, positive exchange of gifts that comes when in the right frame of mind (or no mind), that the flow prepares me for.

[Dover]

1. What a beautiful description. I agree that there is movement in the NOW.

Natural law - everything is in a constant state of change.

I think artists (or those who express themselves in any medium..like cooking), know this place..the NOW...very intimately. And perhaps having a 'creative block' is a way of expressing the feeling of being OUT of the flow, when the spigot is turned off for a period of time. I have found myself in the flow while driving, particularly on the long straight Texas highways that go on and on and on.... Maybe there's something about the movement of the car that is particularly conducive to this state, because NOW is not a stagnant place or energy. Not a noun but a verb.

Tolle has suggested ways that we can 'practice' being more present in the NOW, but like that car ride analogy there is the sense of being in the flow.

Congratulations on the new opportunity! :hi:

[Kind of Blue]

2. I agree it's something about movement.

As a kid, I remember reading about Saints Theresa and Bernadette who always volunteered for the most time consuming repetitive tasks; sweeping, washing, that did not involve interaction with other nuns, saying it kept them in the flow. I can't remember their words for it.
Thanks for the congrats! You're right, ever changing. Just when I got used to one flow, here comes another one. But here's to smooth transitions for us all, as our adventures continues :toast: Onward and Upward!

[Dover]

3. I enjoy rhythmic or repetitive tasks too..

What you call "mindless" I would call unselfconscious...I'm so 'in the flow' or the moment that I've lost any feeling of separation with the ALL. It's kind of like a hyper-awareness that then leads into that "mindless" place. So I'm doing a repetitive activity and am hyper aware of each movement, sound, etc. and then move to another place which is what I might call 'the flow' for lack of a better word vocabulary to describe it.


And I'm very aware when I step out of that flow too.

[Callie McAllie]

5. My absolute favorite mindless task:

Pulling weeds! Absolutely leaves me feeling peaceful and connected and centered.

I need to find something comparable that I can do indoors in the winter. Of course, there's always shoveling snow...

[Kind of Blue]

7. And good exercise, too!

Ugh, rarely did I ever flow with shoveling snow but raking leaves was cool.

[conscious evolution]

8. Chop wood carry water

The old zen masters knew.

[conscious evolution]

4. I call it being

After all,we are not human wasings or human willings.
Others call it the zone.
I'm sure there are other names.
I have found that you can tell a lot about a religion or spiritual path by how it deals with the flow.

[Kind of Blue]

6. The zone. The unselfconscious. The Flow. Human Be-ing.

All good. :headbang: